Biovessels for use in tissue engineering

Abstract

Described herein are bioengineered constructs and methods of producing the same. The constructs and methods disclosed herein can be applied towards, for example, the generation of vascular grafts to treat cardiovascular disease.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vascular graft comprising a cylindrical hollow body, wherein the cylindrical hollow body comprises a first opening and a second opening, and wherein the cylindrical hollow body comprises:
 a) a primary channel, wherein the primary channel comprises an inner wall and an outer wall with a first void space between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are composed of a polymer; and 
 b) a viable cell-infused extracellular matrix material disposed within the first void space, and 
 wherein the first void space contains a microstructure containing a plurality of microchannels, 
 wherein the first opening of the vascular graft is configured to be attached to a cut blood vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the primary channel bifurcates at the second opening into two secondary channels. 
     
     
       3. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is biodegradable. 
     
     
       4. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is biocompatible. 
     
     
       5. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a polyester. 
     
     
       6. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polycaprolactone. 
     
     
       7. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein cells of the viable cell-infused extracellular matrix material are stem cells. 
     
     
       8. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the extracellular matrix material comprises a basement membrane matrix. 
     
     
       9. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microchannels within the microstructure of the first void space are arranged to form a regular pattern. 
     
     
       10. The vascular graft of  claim 9 , wherein the pattern is hexagonal. 
     
     
       11. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microchannels contain cells. 
     
     
       12. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the primary channel has a luminal diameter of from 1 cm to 10 cm. 
     
     
       13. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the first void space has a thickness of from 1 mm to 2 cm. 
     
     
       14. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of one of the microchannels from the plurality of microchannels is from 1 μm to 500 μm. 
     
     
       15. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical hollow body comprises a first end and a second end, and the first opening is at the first end, and the second opening is at the second end, wherein the first opening and the second opening form a straight passage through the cylindrical hollow body. 
     
     
       16. The vascular graft of  claim 1 , wherein the primary channel further contains a tertiary channel connected to the primary channel, wherein the tertiary channel comprises a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is connected to the primary channel. 
     
     
       17. The vascular graft of  claim 16 , wherein the distal end of the tertiary channel comprises a spheroid of cells. 
     
     
       18. The vascular graft of  claim 16 , wherein the tertiary channel is a cylindrical hollow body comprising an inner wall and an outer wall to form a second void space, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are composed of a polymer. 
     
     
       19. The vascular graft of  claim 18 , wherein an additional viable cell-infused extracellular matrix material is disposed within the second void space. 
     
     
       20. A vascular graft, the vascular graft comprising a cylindrical hollow body, wherein the cylindrical hollow body comprises a first opening and a second opening, and wherein the cylindrical hollow body comprises:
 a) a primary channel, wherein the primary channel comprises an inner wall and an outer wall with a void space between the inner wall and the outer wall, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are composed of a polymer; and 
 b) a viable cell-infused extracellular matrix material disposed within the void space, and wherein the void space contains a microstructure containing a plurality of microchannels, wherein the vascular graft is submerged in a media that promotes growth of cells in the viable cell-infused extracellular matrix material, 
 wherein the first opening of the vascular graft is configured to be attached to a cut blood vessel.